Card and host apparatus

ABSTRACT

A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/812,830 filedJul. 29, 2015, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/316,265 filed Jun. 26, 2014, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/168,671 filed Jan. 30, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No.8,812,74, issued Aug. 19, 2014), which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/963,583 filed Aug. 9, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No.8,671,227, issued Mar. 11,2014), which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/792,795 tiled Mar. 11, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No.8,533,367. issued Sep. 10, 2013, which is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/494,475, filed Jul. 28, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No.8,423,679, issued Apr. 16, 2013), which is a Continuation Application ofPCT Application No. PCT/JP2005/024205, filed Dec. 26, 2005, which waspublished under PCT Article 21(2) in English, the entire contents of allof which are incorporated herein by reference.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromprior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2004-378300, filed Dec. 27, 2004;and No. 2005-367632, filed Dec. 21, 2005, the entire contents of both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a card and a host apparatus, forexample, process at the termination of the power supply from the hostapparatus and initialization of a memory card and a host apparatus thatuses the memory card.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a memory card, which is a removable storage device, hasoften been used in various portable electronic apparatuses such aspersonal computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), cameras, orcellular phones. Among the memory cards, PC cards and small-sized SD™cards are gathering much attention. The SD™ card is a memory cardcontaining a flash memory, a card controller, and the like. The SD™ cardis specifically designed to meet requirements such as a reduction insize and an increase in capacity and speed.

The prior art specifies an initialization time of at most one second forthe SD™ card. Thus, all the conventional SD™ cards are manufactured inconformity with this specification. However, as the capacity of the SD™card increases, it becomes more difficult to reduce the initializationtime itself. Accordingly, the reduction of the initialization time islimited. In particular, the initialization time cannot be simplyincreased even with an increase in the capacity of the SD™ card when thecard is used for digital cameras, movie cameras, or the like, becausethese devices are required to be able to carry out photographingimmediately after power-on.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda host apparatus into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductormemory is inserted and which issues a check command to the card, thecheck command instructing to send information on whether the cardsupports a termination process in which the card shifts into a stateready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, being inserted into ahost apparatus, and supporting a termination process in which the cardshifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the hostapparatus, the card sending a response which shows the card supports thetermination process when the card receives a check command instructingto send information on whether the card supports the terminationprocess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an essential part of amemory card according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the assignment of signals to signal pins inthe card according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in thecard according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing, in detail, the configuration of a registersection of the card according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of data in a NAND type flashmemory;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process to check if a terminationprocess according to the first embodiment is supported;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of a switch command and a response thereto;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the a part of the contents of aninitialization command according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the termination process executed by thecard and host apparatus according to the first embodiment duringinitialization;

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing transmissions and receptions ofsignals between the host apparatus and the card according to the firstembodiment which occur after the card has received the function stopcommand and before it completes a termination process;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an essential part of the contents of afunction stop command issued by the host apparatus according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a part of the processshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a part of the contents of an initializationcommand and an response thereto according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the card accordingto the first embodiment during initialization;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in acard according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in acard according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In connection with the problems described in the section “Background ofthe Invention”, it is possible to use a technique for continuouslysupplying a power supply potential to an SD™ card even after a hostapparatus has been powered off. This technique eliminates the need toinitialize the SD™ card when the host apparatus is turned on.Consequently, the SD™ card can be used immediately after the hostapparatus has been powered on. However, a leakage current from the SD™card may disadvantageously cause batteries for the host apparatus to beexhausted. It is technically difficult to reduce the leakage current.Thus, the employment of this technique is difficult.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. In the description below, components havingsubstantially the same functions and configurations will be denoted bythe same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions will be given onlywhen required.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an essential part of a card accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention. A card (memory card) 1transmits and receives information to and from a host apparatus via abus interface 3. The card 1 comprises a NAND type flash memory chip 11,a card controller 12 that controls the NAND type flash memory 11, and aplurality of signal pins (first to ninth pins) 13.

The plurality of signal pins 13 are electrically connected to the cardcontroller 12. Signals are assigned to the plurality of signal pins 13,that is, the first to ninth pins, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. Data0 to 3 are assigned to the seventh pin, the eighth pin, the ninth pin,and the first pin, respectively. The first pin is also assigned to acard detection signal. Moreover, the second pin is assigned to acommand. The third and sixth pins are assigned to a ground potentialVss. The fourth and fifth pins are assigned to a power supply potentialVdd and a clock signal, respectively.

The card 1 is formed so that it can be inserted into and released from aslot 4 provided in the host apparatus 2. The host apparatus 2 includes apotential supplying section 5, a read/write control section 6, a commandcontrol section 7, a card detecting section 8, and the like.

The potential supplying section 5, the read/write section 6, the commandcontrol section 7 transmit and receive various signals and data to andfrom the card controller 12 in the card 1 via the first to ninth pins.For example, when data are to be written to the card 1, the commandcontrol section 7 transmits a write command to the card controller 12via the second pin as a serial signal. On this occasion, in response toa clock signal supplied to the fifth pin, the card controller 12 loadsthe write command provided to the second pin. The write command isserially input to the card controller 12 utilizing only the second pin.The card detecting section 8 detects whether or not any card is insertedinto the slot 4.

An interface for a NAND type flash memory is employed for communicationsbetween the NAND type flash memory 11 and the card controller 12.Accordingly, although not shown, the NAND type, flash memory 11 and thecard controller 12 are connected together by 8-bit I/O lines. Forexample, when the card controller 12 writes data to the NAND type flashmemory 11, the card controller 12 sequentially inputs a data inputcommand 80H, a column address, a page address, data, and a programcommand 10H to the NAND type flash memory 11 via the I/O lines. Here,“H” in the command 80H indicates a hexadecimal number. In actuality, an8-bit signal “10000000” is provided to the 8-bit I/O lines in parallel.That is, with the NAND type flash memory interface, a command of pluralbits is provided to the I/O lines in parallel. Further, with the NANDtype flash memory interface, commands and data are communicated to theNAND type flash memory 11 using the same I/O lines. Thus, an interfaceused to allow a host controller in the host apparatus 2 and the card 1to communicate is different from the interface used to allow the NANDtype flash memory 11 and the card controller 12 to communicate.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in thecard according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3, the host apparatus 2 comprises hardware and softwareused to access the card 1 connected to the apparatus 2 via the businterface 3. The card 1 is operated by power supplied by the potentialsupplying section 5 when connected to the host apparatus 2. The card 1executes a process in accordance with an access from the host apparatus2.

For the NAND type flash memory 11, an erasure block size used forerasure (a block size for an erasure unit) is set at a predeterminedvalue (for example, 256 kBytes). Further, data are written to and readfrom the NAND type flash memory 11 using units (for example, 2 kBytes)called pages.

The card controller 12 has a host interface module 21, an microprocessing unit (MPU) 23, a flash controller 26, a read-only memory(ROM) 24, for example, a random access memory (RAM) 25 serving as atemporary storage memory, and a buffer 27. The card controller 12 storessystem data concerning the internal physical state of the NAND typeflash memory 11. The RAM 25 is implemented using a volatile memory suchas a static random access memory (SRAM). The system data includes dataindicating the ordinal of logical sector address data contained in acertain physical block address, which blocks are writable, and the like.

The host interface module 21 interfaces the card controller 12 and thehost apparatus 2 together and includes a register section 22. FIG. 4shows the configuration of the register section 22 in detail. Theregister section 22 has various registers including a card statusregister, CID, RCA, DSR, CSD, SCR, and OCR. The register section furtherincludes an initialization method indicating section pattern register 36and a busy notification section pattern register 37. The initializationmethod indicating section pattern register 36 holds a bit pattern whichis to be contained in an initialization method indicating section in aresponse to a initialization command.

These registers are defined as described below. The card status registeris used for normal operations and stores, for example, error informationdescribed later. CID, RCA, DSR, CSD, SCR, and OCR are mainly used toinitialize the card 1. CID (Card IDentification number) stores theindividual number of the card 1. RCA (Relative Card Address) stores arelative card address (dynamically determined by the host apparatusduring initialization). DSR (Driver Stage Register) stores the busdriving force of the card 1 and the like. CSD (Card Specific Data)stores characteristic parameter values of the card 1. SCR (SDConfiguration data Register) stores the arrangement of data in the card1. Moreover, OCR (Operation Condition Register) stores an operatingvoltage if the card 1 has a limited operational range voltage.

MPU (control section) 23 controls the operation of the whole card 1.When for example, the card 1 is supplied with power, MPU 23 readsfirmware (control program) stored in ROM 24 and loads it onto RAM 25.MPU 23 then executes a predetermined process to create various systemdata on RAM 25. MPU 23 also receives a write command, a read command, oran erasure command from the host apparatus 2. MPU 23 then executes apredetermined process on the NAND type flash memory 11 or controls adata transfer process through a buffer 26.

ROM 24 stores, for example, control programs controlled by MPU 23. RAM25 is used as a work area for MPU 23 to store control programs andvarious system data. Moreover, the flash controller 26 executes aninterfacing process between the card controller 12 and the NAND typeflash memory 11.

A buffer 27 temporarily stores a specified amount of data (for example,for one page) when data sent by the host apparatus 2 are written to theNAND type flash memory 11. The buffer 27 also temporarily stores aspecified amount of data when data read from the NAND type flash memory11 are transmitted to the host apparatus 2.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of data in the NAND type flash memory 11.Each page of the NAND type flash memory 11 has 2112 Bytes ((512 Bytes ofdata storage section+10 Bytes of redundant section)×4+24 Bytes ofmanagement data storing section). One erasure unit amounts to 128 pages(256 kBytes+8 kBytes (in this case, k is 1,024)).

Further, the NAND type flash memory 11 comprises a page buffer 11A usedto input and output data to and from the flash memory. The storagecapacity of the page buffer 11A is 2,112 Bytes (2,048 Bytes+64 Bytes).For a data write or the like, the page buffer 11A inputs and outputsdata to and from the flash memory for each page equal to its own storagecapacity.

If the storage capacity of the NAND type flash memory 11 is, forexample, 1 Gbits, the number of 256-kByte blocks (erasure units) is 512.

Further, FIG. 5 illustrates the case in which the erasure unit is 256kBytes. However, it is also effective in a practical sense to constructthe memory so that the erasure unit is, for example, a 16-kByte block.In this case, each page has 528 Bytes (512 Bytes of data storingsection+16 Bytes of redundant section). One erasure unit amounts to 32pages (16 kBytes+0.5 kBytes (in this case, k is 1,024)).

An area of the NAND type flash memory 11 in which data is written (datastorage area) is divided into a plurality of areas in accordance withthe type of data saved, as shown in FIG. 3. The NAND type flash memory11 comprises, as data storage areas, a user data area 34 in which userdata are stored, a management data area 31 in which managementinformation concerning the card 1 is stored, a confidential data area 32in which confidential data are stored, and a protect data area 33 inwhich important data are stored.

The user data area 34 can be freely accessed and used by the user of thecard 1. The protect data area 33 can be accessed only if the hostapparatus 2 is proved to be valid on the basis of the mutualauthentication between the card 1 and the host apparatus 2 connected tothe card 1.

The management data area 31 stores card information such as the media IDof the card 1 and system data. The confidential data area 32 stores keyinformation used for ciphering, confidential data used forauthentication, and security information.

The operation mode of the card is roughly classified into an SD mode andan SPI mode. In the SD mode, the card 1 is set to an SD 4-bit mode or SD1-bit mode in accordance with a bus width change command from the hostapparatus 2.

Here, a focus will be placed on four pins, that is, a data 0 pin (DAT0)to a data 3 pin (DAT 3). In the SD 4-bit mode, in which data aretransferred for each 4-bit width, all the four pins, that is, the data 0pin (DAT0) to data 3 pin (DAT 3), are used for data transfer. Incontrast, in the SD 1-bit mode, in which data are transferred for each1-bit width, only the data 0 pin (DAT0) is used for data transfer,whereas the data 1 pin (DAT1) and the data 2 pin (DAT2) are not used fordata transfer. On the other hand, the data 3 pin (DAT3) is used for, forexample, an asynchronous interruption made by the card 1 in the hostapparatus 2. In the SPI mode, the data 0 pin (DAT0) is used for a datasignal line (DATA OUT) from the card 1 to the host apparatus 2. Acommand pin (CMD) is used for a data signal line (DATA IN) from the hostapparatus 2 to the card 1. The data 1 pin (DAT1) and the data 2 pin(DAT2) are not used. Further, in the SPI mode, the data 3 pin (DAT3) isused to send a chip select signal CS from the host apparatus 2 to thecard 1.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 14, description will be given of theoperation of the card 1 and the host apparatus 2.

(Check Operation for the Support of Terminal Operation)

The host apparatus 2 determines if the card 1 supports or not atermination process (to be described later) which a function stopcommand instructs to take. The determination only needs to be completedany moment before the host apparatus stops supplying power.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the process which the host apparatus takesto know if the card 1 supports the termination process. As shown FIG. 6,the host apparatus 2 issues a command to the card 1 for determining ifthe card 1 supports the termination process (step S31). An example ofsuch a command may include so called a switch command. The switchcommand is used in, for example, a check function or a set function. Amode 0, for example, is used as the check function and a mode 1 the setfunction. The mode displaying part in the command may be set either “0”or “1” to switch the mode.

When host apparatus 2 accesses the card 1, the host apparatus 2 needs toknow the specification of the card 1. The host apparatus 2 provides thecard 1 with the switch command which is set to have the check functionas shown in FIG. 7. The host apparatus 2 then receives status data fromthe card 1 on the data line DAT to know the card's specification.

When the card 1 which supports the termination process receives theswitch command, the card 1 sends back status data which states the card1 supports the process. The host apparatus 2 receives the status data toknow the termination process can be performed before the stop of thepower supply.

In contrast, if the card 1 supports the switch command but does notsupport the termination process, the status data expresses that the card1 does not support the process. The host apparatus 2 receives such astatus data to know that the termination process cannot be executed.

If the card 1 does not support the switch command, it does not send backthe response and the status data. Therefore, the host apparatus 2 knowsthe termination process cannot be carried out. The host apparatus canexamine the version information of the card 1 to know the support of thetermination process by the card 1.

If the card 1 supports various switchable operation modes, the hostapparatus 2 issues the switch command which is in the set mode andstates a operation mode to be taken by the card 1.

Alternatively, the host apparatus 2 may use an initialization command todetermine if the support or non-support of the termination process bythe card 1. FIG. 8 shows a part of contents of an initialization commandaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, theinitialization command includes a command section CM, terminationprocess identification section TP, busy notification section BS anderror detection code section which may contain, for example, an cyclicredundancy check (CRC). The command section contains an index toidentify the command.

The host apparatus 2 provides the card with the initialization commandwhose termination process identification section TP is set (to, forexample, “1”) to express that the host apparatus 2 supports thetermination process according to the present embodiment.

Receiving the initialization command, the card 1 sends back a responseto the host apparatus 2. The response has a format the same as thecommand. If the card 1 supports the termination process, the card 1sends back the response which states the it supports the terminationprocess in the termination process identification section TP, that isthe response whose termination process identification section TP has thesame bit as the command. The host apparatus 2 receives the response toknow that it can take the termination process with the card 1.

If the card 1 recognizes the command used for determining the support ornon-support of the termination process but does not support the process,it sends back the response whose termination process identificationsection is set (to, for example, “0”) to express that the card 1 doesnot support the termination process.

After the host apparatus 2 determines if the card 1 supports or not thetermination process at the step S 32, it writes data to or read datafrom the card 1 (step S33, S34) required times.

(Terminal Operation)

The host apparatus 2 takes the termination process described in thefollowing in response to, for example, the power-off of the hostapparatus 2. If the card 1 does not support the termination process, thehost apparatus 2 stops supplying the card 1 with power in theconventional way to stop the access from the host apparatus 2 to thecard 1.

In contrast, if the card 1 supports the termination process, the hostapparatus 2 and the card 1 execute the termination process shown in FIG.9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the termination sequence which the card1 and host apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment take. FIG. 10is a timing chart at the termination process.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the host apparatus 2 first issues a functionstop command on the command line CMD to the card 1 (step S1). Thefunction stop command may be the aforementioned switch command or newlydefined one. When using the switch command, the function stop commandhas at least a command section CM and a save instruction section SS asshown in FIG. 11. The error detection code section ED may be provided.When using a newly defined command, the command section CM itselfindicates this command is a function stop command, therefore the saveinstruction section SS is not necessary. The save instruction section SScan take a bit pattern (for example, “1”) indicating at least that thecard 1 should shift into an power-off ready state in which the card isready for the stop of the power supply after, for example, saving thesystem data. Further, the save instruction section SS may have a bitpattern (for example, “0”) indicating that the card 1 may shift into thepower-off ready state without saving the system data.

The card 1 receives the function stop command (step S2). In response tothis command, the card 1 sends back a response on the command line CMDand starts transmitting a signal (for example “0”) to the host apparatus2 indicating that the card 1 is busy executing the termination process(step S3).

Determination is carried out if the status of the card 1 has changed ornot after start of power supply (step S4). The status of the card 1 isregarded to have changed if, for example, data has been written in thecard 1, the lock/unlock function has been changed, or programmable CSDregister has been set into another state.

When the status of the card 1 has changed, the card 1 executes thetermination process (step S5). The termination process may includevariety processes and may be saving of the system data stored in the RAM25 to the NAND type flash memory 11. The system data can be saved to,for example, a management data area 31. Alternatively, the system datamay be saved to a nonvolatile memory provided separately from the NANDtype flash memory 11. All or a part of the system data may be saved.

Examples of the system data include an address translation table and anassign table. The address translation table is used to convert a logicaladdress into a physical address for the NAND type flash memory 11. Theassign table is used to distinguish blocks used to store data (blocks towhich logical blocks are assigned) from those not used to store data(blocks to which logical blocks are not assigned).

The terminal operation may include the following procedures. A cardcannot know when power supply from a host apparatus stops if a functionstop command is not defined. Therefore, the card must write whole datawhich the host apparatus requires to write into a NAND type flash memory11 to prepare a possible sudden power-off.

In contrast, the function stop command can let the card 1 know thatpower supply from the host apparatus 2 is about to stop in advance. Asshown in FIG. 12, this advantage allows the card 1 to write only part ofdata which the host apparatus 2 asked to write in the NAND type flashmemory 11 (step S33A) and remaining part thereof in following timing(step S33B) such as one with no access by the host apparatus 2. Whenthis method taken, the remaining part of data may be stored in, forexample, the RAM 25 or a cache area (temporal write area) in the NANDtype flash memory 11. This write method allows the card 1 to takeshorter time to write data in response of one write command than towrite the whole data.

Writing of the remaining part of data to be written must be finishedbefore the stop of the power supply to the card 1. Therefore, an exampleof the termination process includes writing of the remaining part ofdata to the NAND type flash memory 11.

Note that the host apparatus may instruct the card to write the whole ora part of data after it knows the card 1 supports the terminationprocess or the card 1 decides which one should be executed by itself.

Then, in FIG. 9, the card 1 sets a bit pattern (for example, “1”) initself indicating that the termination process has been completed (stepS6). The bit pattern (flag) may be stored in area (normal terminationindicating flag 35) in the NAND type flash memory 11, for example, inthe management data area 31, as shown in FIG. 31.

Then, once the termination process has been completed, the card 1transmits a signal to the host apparatus 2 indicating that the busystate has been cleared (step S7). The host apparatus 2 then knows theclearance of the busy state.

Following the clearance of the busy state, the card 1 then shifts into alow power mode (step S8). The low power mode allows the powerconsumption of the card to be lower than the normal state. The powersupply is thus interrupted except for parts required to shift to aninitialization process. Thus, the shift of the card 1 into the low powermode has been normally completed.

The low power mode can be realized by limiting the supply of a clocksignal, for example, as in the case of the two methods described below.With a first method, a clock circuit in the card 1 includes aphase-locked loop (PLL) circuit and an oscillator, and the oscillator isstopped. In this case, the power consumption by the oscillator isreduced. Further, for example, the PLL circuit stores an initialfrequency value so that the oscillation frequency of the clock circuitcan be stabilized in a short time after the power supply starts.

With a second method, a clock supplied by the host apparatus 2 isstopped. While the card 1 is in operation, the host apparatus 2 suppliesa clock signal to a majority of flip-flops located at a front end of thecard 1. The power consumption by the card 1 can be reduced by stoppingthe supply of the clock signal to, for example, the flip-flops otherthan those located in a command decode circuit.

After shifting into the power-off ready state (the inactive state), thecard 1 does not accept any commands including a read/write commandsuntil initialization is started again. This avoids changing the savedsystem data before the power supply to the card 1 is stopped.

In response to the clearance of the busy state, the host apparatus 2stops the power supply to the card 1 (step S9). After the clearance ofthe busy state, the card 1 shifts to the low power mode, as describedabove. This gives advantages described below. Normally, the power supplyto the card 1 is stopped immediately after the busy state is cleared.However, the interruption of the power supply from the host apparatus 2may fail for some reason. In this case, the power consumption by thehost apparatus 2 can be reduced by avoiding the supply of a uselesspotential to the card 1.

The host apparatus may provide a time-out control to the busy state ofthe card 1. The host apparatus 2, for example, stops supplying the card1 with the power if the busy state continues longer than the settime-out period. In this case, the normal termination indicating flag 35is set to a bit pattern (for example, “0”) indicating that thetermination process has not been completed.

When the status of the card 1 has not changed after the power-on and thetermination process has been completed the last time the power is off,termination process is not necessary. Therefore, when the normaltermination indicating flag 35 is set in the step S10, then step S7follows.

(Initialization Process)

Now, with reference to FIG. 13, description will be given of aninitialization command and a response thereto. FIG. 13 shows part ofcontents of the initialization command and the response when the commandand the response have the same format.

As shown in FIG. 13, the initialization command has at least a commandsection CM and a busy notification section BS. The initializationcommand does not have an initialization method indicating section FI. Anerror detection code section ED may be provided.

In the response, the initialization method indicating section FI, whichis not necessary, shows with which initialization method the card 1 hascarried out an initialization. The busy notification section BS isformed with a bit pattern indicating that the card 1 is beinginitialized (for example, the bit pattern “1”) or that initializationhas been completed (for example, the bit pattern “0”). The initializingmethod indicating section FI is not effective until the busy state iscleared.

With reference to FIG. 14, description will now be given of a processexecuted by the card 1 during its initialization. FIG. 14 is a flowchartshowing the process executed by the card 1 according to the firstembodiment during initialization. As shown in FIG. 14, the card 1receives the initialization command (step S21) and then returns aresponse to the initialization command. The busy notification section BSin the response has a bit pattern indicating the busy state (step S22).Subsequently, the host apparatus 2 keeps issuing the initializationcommand until the card 1 notifies the host apparatus 2 that theinitialization process has been finished by clearance of the busy state.The card 1 starts the initialization process described below in responseto the reception of the first initialization command. For the second andsubsequent initialization commands, the sane response is simply returnedin which the busy notification section BS has the bit pattern indicatingthe busy state.

In the step S23, the card 1 examines the normal termination indicatingflag 35 held within. When the last termination process has failed tocomplete, the normal termination indicating flag 35 is cleared. The card1, then, performs a complete initialization. That is, step S24 iscarried out. When the last termination process has completely finished,the normal termination indicating flag 35 is set. The card 1, then,performs a high-speed initialization. That is, step S27 is carried out.The complete initialization of step S24 is a conventional one andincludes the error check of memory data and saving of system data.

In the complete initialization, the card 1 checks whether or not thereis any error in the memory data stored in the NAND type flash memory 11.The memory data is damaged, for example, when the last power supply tothe card 1 was inappropriately stopped during a write to the memorydata. If the memory data are thus damaged, they are restored. The errorchecking process and the error correcting process may require a longtime because they are executed on the entire area of the NAND type flashmemory 11 in the card 1. The time increases consistently with thecapacity of the memory.

Then, the card 1 creates and saves system data to RAM (step S25).

The high-speed initialization of step S27 finishes quicker than thecomplete initialization by omitting some process from the completeinitialization or taking different procedures from the completeinitialization. As an example of the high-speed initialization, in stepS27, the card 1 reads the system data saved to the NAND type flashmemory 11 during the last termination process, and loads the data ontoRAM 25. If the saved system data are a part of the total system data,they are saved to RAM, while the remaining part is created again. Theresulting system data are subsequently utilized. In the high-speedinitialization, a check for an error in memory data and creation ofsystem data, which are carried out during the complete initialization,are omitted.

After the system data have been read, the MPU 23 sets a bit patternindicating which initialization method has been taken in theinitialization method indicating section pattern register 36 (step S29).And then, the card 1 sets a bit pattern indicating the busy state hasbeen cleared in the busy notification section pattern register 37 (stepS30).

When receiving the next initialization command, the card 1 notifiesthese bit patterns set in the register 36 and 37 to the host apparatus 2using the initialization method indicating section FI and the busynotification section BS in the response. When the host apparatus 2receives the response, it stops the issuance of the initializationcommand. The initialization process is thus finished.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the card 1can know that the host apparatus is about to stop supplying the powersupply in advance and carries out the termination process to prepare forit. If the termination process has been normally completed, thehigh-speed initialization can be executed to finish the initializationquicker.

Thus, the initialization time can be reduced even though the reductioncannot be easily achieved simply by improving the completeinitialization method in accordance with an increase in memory capacity.This reduces the requirements for the design of the card controller 12.

The present embodiment particularly can reduce the initialization timefor the host apparatus 2 such as a digital camera, a movie camera, orthe like, into which the card 1 remains inserted. This makesphotographing immediately after power on possible, which is verypractically effective.

The normal termination indicating flag 35 is cleared when the card 1 haschanged its status such as when data write to the NAND type flash memory11. This can omit the termination process as long as the card statusremains the same. Clearance of the normal termination indicating flag 35may be executed when the initialization completes. When this method istaken, the termination process must be performed every time the card 1receives the function stop command even though the card status remainsthe same.

(Second Embodiment)

RAM 25 is a nonvolatile memory in the first embodiment. In contrast, RAM25 is a nonvolatile magnetic random access memory (MRAM) orferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) in the second embodiment. Inthis case, a memory to which the system data is saved and an area inwhich the normal termination indicating flag 35 is provided aredifferent from those according to the first embodiment. Severalprocesses are also different from those used in the first embodiment.The differences will be described below.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in thecard according to the second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 15, a nonvolatile RAM 41 such as MRAM or FeRAM is provided in placeof RAM 25, used in the first embodiment. The normal terminationindicating flag 35 is provided in RAM 41 or the NAND type flash memory11 (in the figure, the normal termination indicating flag 35 is shown inboth RAM 41 and NAND type flash memory 11 for convenience).

In the present embodiment, all the system data created during theinitialization of the card 1 are saved to RAM 41. Since MRAM and FeRAMare nonvolatile and can operate at high speed, the system data need notbe moved to SRAM while the card 1 is in operation, compared to the firstembodiment. Thus, in the process executed by the card 1 upon receivingthe function stop command (FIG. 9), the processing in step S4 is notrequired. Further, in the process executed by the card 1 duringinitialization (FIG. 14), the processing in step S27 is not required.The remaining part of the process according to the present embodiment isthe same as that according to the first embodiment.

The second embodiment of the present invention produces the same effectsas those of the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of hardware in acard according to a third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, nonvolatileRAM 41 is provided in addition to RAM 25 according to the firstembodiment. The normal termination indicating flag 35 is provided in thenonvolatile RAM 41 or the NAND type flash memory 11 (in the figure, thenormal termination indicating flag 35 is shown in both nonvolatile RAM41 and NAND type flash memory 11 for convenience).

According to the present embodiment, a part of the system data createdduring the initialization of the card 1 is saved to the nonvolatile RAM41. The remaining part of the system data is saved to the NAND typeflash memory 11. Since RAM 41 is nonvolatile and can operate at highspeed, the part of the system data which is to be saved to thenonvolatile RAM 41 is not moved to RAM 25 but operates on thenonvolatile RAM 41. On the other hand, the part of the system data whichis to be saved to the NAND type flash memory 11 is moved to and remainsin RAM 25 while the card 1 is in operation. This part of the system datais moved to the NAND type flash memory 11 as in the case of the firstembodiment or to the nonvolatile RAM 41 when the supply of the powersupply potential to the card 1 is stopped. When the data is easy to formusing other data in the initialization, it may be discarded withoutbeing saved.

In the process executed by the card 1 upon receiving the function stopcommand (FIG. 9), the processing in step S4 corresponds to the operationof saving the part of the system data which is present on RAM 25 to theNAND type flash memory 11 or nonvolatile RAM 41. Further, in the processexecuted by the card 1 during initialization (FIG. 14), the processingin step S27 corresponds to the operation of reading and loading, ontoRAM 25, the part of the processed or unprocessed system data which ispresent on the NAND type flash memory 11. The remaining part of theprocess is the same as that according to the first embodiment.

The third embodiment of the present invention produces the same effectsas those of the first embodiment.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A memory card connectable to a host device andincluding a memory core and a memory controller, the memory controllerconfigured to: transmit, in response to a first command, a response ofstatus data that is used to determine whether the card supports atermination process, the termination process including shifting into astate ready for a stop of power supply from the host device, perform thetermination process in response to a function stop command from the hostdevice, transmit a first signal indicative of a busy state whileperforming the termination process, the first signal being indicative ofthe busy state and having a first level, and notify the host device ofcompletion of the busy state by transmitting a second signal indicativeof a ready state and having a second level when the memory cardcompletes the termination process.
 2. The memory card according to claim1, wherein the memory core includes a nonvolatile memory and the memorycard further includes a volatile memory.
 3. The memory card according toclaim 2, wherein the termination process includes writing data stored inthe volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory.
 4. The memory cardaccording to claim 1, wherein the memory card is configured to changeinformation to indicate that the termination process has not beencompleted when a status of the memory card has changed since completionof a latest initialization.
 5. The memory card according to claim 4,wherein the memory controller is configured to: receive aninitialization command instructing to carry out initialization, executeinitialization using a first initialization method when the informationindicates that the termination process has not been completed, andexecute initialization using a second initialization method, which isfinished quicker than the first initialization method, when anonvolatile memory indicates that the termination process has beencompleted.
 6. The memory card according to claim 5, wherein the secondinitialization method comprises the first initialization method with apart of it omitted.
 7. The memory card according to claim 6, wherein theomitted part includes at least one of: checking for errors of datastored in the nonvolatile memory; restoring the errors; constructing atranslation table showing a relation between logical addresses of writedata and physical addresses of the nonvolatile memory which stores thewrite data.